Trains under strain: Floods sink signals leaving routes to the west in turmoil

David Cameron at First Great Western’s maintenance depot (Picture: Getty Images)

Thousands of rail users commuting between London and the West Country face more travel turmoil today as 80 per cent of services have been cancelled because of flooding.

Passengers were warned to stay at home as First Great Western will operate a skeleton service for a second day, with those trains still running doing so at a reduced speed.

Spokesman Dan Panes said the problems were caused by water getting into signalling and safety equipment near Maidenhead, Berkshire.

He said: ‘Network Rail are having to signal us into the area by hand at every single stop. It means that rather than 25 trains an hour in to and out of Paddington, we are only able to run four at the moment.’

Services were also suspended on South West Trains between Staines and Windsor and Eton Riverside.

A landslip at Oxted, Surrey, was also causing disruption to Southern trains.

The situation was little better for motorists today, with dozens of A-roads closed by flooding across the south of England, and snow closing high roads in parts of north Wales and Derbyshire.

Meanwhile, Network Rail estimated the cost of the damage to the network at £100million and confirmed that the main line to Cornwall was likely to remain shut for another six weeks.

The Rail Delivery Group said some ticket restrictions had been lifted and replacement bus services were being provided, as 4,000 staff did their best to tackle the flood damage.